Pulse oximeter access apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

Access is provided to certain pulse oximetry systems utilizing a keyed sensor and a corresponding locked sensor port of a restricted access monitor. In such systems, the keyed sensor has a key comprising a memory element, and the monitor has a memory reader associated with the sensor port. The monitor is configured to function only when the key is in communications with the locked sensor port, and the memory reader is able to retrieve predetermined data from the memory element. The monitor is accessed by providing the key separate from the keyed sensor, integrating the key into an adapter cable, and connecting the adapter cable between the sensor port and an unkeyed sensor so that the monitor functions with the unkeyed sensor.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 to, and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/981,186, filed Nov. 4, 2004 entitled “Pulse Oximeter Access Apparatus and Method,” now U.S. Pat. No. 7,482,729, which claims priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/517,954, filed Nov. 5, 2003, entitled “Pulse Oximeter Access Apparatus and Method.” The present application also incorporates the foregoing disclosures herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pulse oximeters have gained rapid acceptance in a wide variety of medical applications, including surgical wards, intensive care units, general wards and home care by providing early detection of decreases in the arterial oxygen supply, reducing the risk of accidental death and injury. FIG. 1 illustrates a pulse oximetry system 100 having a sensor 110 applied to a patient 10, a monitor 160, and a patient cable 140 connecting the sensor 110 and the monitor 160. The sensor 110 has a sensor body 111 that houses emitters and a detector and is attached to a patient at a selected fleshy medium site, such as a fingertip or ear lobe. The emitters are positioned to project light of at least two wavelengths through the blood vessels and capillaries of the fleshy medium. The detector is positioned so as to detect the emitted light after absorption by the fleshy medium, including hemoglobin and other constituents of pulsatile blood flowing within the fleshy medium, and generate at least first and second intensity signals in response. The sensor 110 has a patient cable connector 114 and may have an integrated sensor cable 112. The sensor 110 may be a disposable adhesive sensor for use on a single patient or a reusable clip-on sensor for use on multiple patients.

As shown in FIG. 1, the monitor 160, which may be a standalone device or may be incorporated as a module or built-in portion of a multiparameter patient monitoring system, computes at least one physiological parameter responsive to magnitudes of the intensity signals. A monitor 160 typically provides a numerical readout of the patient's oxygen saturation 164, a numerical readout of pulse rate 166, and a display the patient's plethysmograph 168, which provides a visual display of the patient's pulse contour and pulse rate. The monitor 160 has a sensor port 162 that transmits emitter drive signals to the sensor 110 and receives the detector intensity signals from the sensor 110. The patient cable 140 provides the electrical and mechanical connection and communications link between the sensor port 162 and the sensor 110. The patient cable 140 has a sensor connector 142 that connects to the patient cable connector 114 and a monitor connector 144 that connects to the sensor port 162.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Pulse oximeters have gained rapid acceptance in a wide variety of medical applications, including surgical wards, intensive care units, general wards and home care by providing early detection of decreases in the arterial oxygen supply, reducing the risk of accidental death and injury. FIG. 1 illustrates a pulse oximetry system 100 having a sensor 110 applied to a patient 10, a monitor 160, and a patient cable 140 connecting the sensor 110 and the monitor 160. The sensor 110 has a sensor body 111 that houses emitters and a detector and is attached to a patient at a selected fleshy medium site, such as a fingertip or ear lobe. The emitters are positioned to project light of at least two wavelengths through the blood vessels and capillaries of the fleshy medium. The detector is positioned so as to detect the emitted light after absorption by the fleshy medium, including hemoglobin and other constituents of pulsatile blood flowing within the fleshy medium, and generate at least first and second intensity signals in response. The sensor 110 has a patient cable connector 114 and may have an integrated sensor cable 112. The sensor 110 may be a disposable adhesive sensor for use on a single patient or a reusable clip-on sensor for use on multiple patients.

As shown in FIG. 1, the monitor 160, which may be a standalone device or may be incorporated as a module or built-in portion of a multiparameter patient monitoring system, computes at least one physiological parameter responsive to magnitudes of the intensity signals. A monitor 160 typically provides a numerical readout of the patient's oxygen saturation 164, a numerical readout of pulse rate 166, and a display the patient's plethysmograph 168, which provides a visual display of the patient's pulse contour and pulse rate. The monitor 160 has a sensor port 162 that transmits emitter drive signals to the sensor 110 and receives the detector intensity signals from the sensor 110. The patient cable 140 provides the electrical and mechanical connection and communications link between the sensor port 162 and the sensor 110. The patient cable 140 has a sensor connector 142 that connects to the patient cable connector 114 and a monitor connector 144 that connects to the sensor port 162.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 2 illustrates a restricted access pulse oximetry system 200 having a keyed sensor 210 and a restricted access monitor 260. The keyed sensor 210 and restricted access monitor 260 are designed so that the monitor 260 will only function with a specific sensor or family of sensors from a specific manufacturer or licensed vendors. Upon power up, the sensor port 262 is locked. That is, the monitor 260 will not function until it reads the correct information from the sensor port 262. In particular, a patient cable connector 214 has a memory device. The memory device and the data stored in the memory device act as a key. The sensor port 262 and a memory reader in the monitor associated with the sensor port 262 act as a lock. When the keyed patient cable connector 214 is in communications with the locked sensor port 262 via a patient cable 240, the memory reader can access the data stored in the memory device. If the stored data matches predetermined access data, the monitor unlocks the sensor port 262, i.e. properly functions with a sensor attached to the sensor port 262. A memory device commonly used for storing manufacturer and product information is the DS2502 from Dallas Semiconductor, which has a 1 kbit memory that is accessed through a single pin that provides data input, data output and power. Once the sensor port 262 is unlocked, the sensor 210, patient cable 240, sensor port 262 and monitor 260 function as described with respect to FIG. 1, above.

One aspect of a pulse oximeter access method is used in conjunction with a pulse oximetry system comprising a keyed sensor and a corresponding locked sensor port of a restricted access monitor. The keyed sensor has a key comprising a memory element. The monitor has a memory reader associated with the sensor port. The monitor is configured to function only when the key is in communications with the locked sensor port and the memory reader is able to retrieve predetermined data from the memory element. The access method comprises the steps of providing the key separate from the keyed sensor, integrating the key into an adapter cable, and connecting the adapter cable between the sensor port and an unkeyed sensor so that the monitor functions with the unkeyed sensor.

Another aspect of a pulse oximeter access apparatus comprises a sensor having emitters adapted to transmit light of at least first and second wavelengths into a fleshy medium and a light sensitive detector adapted to generate at least first and second intensity signals by detecting the light after absorption by constituents of pulsatile blood flowing within the fleshy medium. A monitor is configured to non-invasively measure one or more physiological parameters responsive to magnitudes of the intensity signals. A key contains access information. A sensor port is configured to communicate emitter drive signals from the monitor to the sensor, intensity signals from the sensor to the monitor, and the access information from the key to the monitor. A lock associated with the sensor port is adapted to read the access information from the key and to enable the monitor to provide measurements of the physiological parameters in response to the access information. An adapter cable containing the key is configured to provide a communications link between the sensor and the sensor port.

A further aspect of a pulse oximeter access apparatus comprises a sensor means for providing a physiological signal to a monitor and a key means for providing access to a locked sensor port portion of the monitor. An adapter cable means containing the key means provides communications between the sensor and the sensor port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art pulse oximetry system;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a prior art pulse oximetry system having a restricted access monitor with a locked sensor port;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pulse oximeter access apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a pulse oximeter access method;

FIGS. 5-6 are perspective views of a keyed sensor and a keyless adapter cable, respectively, illustrating lock removal and reattachment; and

FIGS. 7-8 are perspective views of a keyed adapter cable and an attached keyless sensor, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 3 illustrates a pulse oximeter access apparatus 300 having a keyless sensor 810, a keyed adapter cable 700 and a patient cable 240 that advantageously interconnect so as to allow the keyless sensor 810 to function with a restricted access monitor 260 having a locked sensor port 262. The keyed adapter cable 700 has a keyed connector 214 at one end, which mates with a sensor connector 242 of a patient cable 240, and a sensor connector 714 at the opposite end, which mates with a patient cable connector 814 of the keyless sensor 810. The monitor connector 244 mates with the sensor port 262, providing communications between the keyless sensor 810 and the sensor port 262 and between a memory element in the keyed connector 214 and a memory reader within the monitor 260. The sensor connector 714 of the keyed adapter cable 700 can be any of a number of connectors that mate with any of a number of patient cable connectors 814. Further, a family of keyed adapter cables 700 can be configured, each with a different sensor connector 714 compatible with a different keyless sensor 810 or family of keyless sensors 810.

FIG. 4 illustrates a pulse oximeter access method 400 for creating and utilizing a keyed adapter cable 700 (FIGS. 3, 7). In an initial step, a sensor port key is provided by purchasing 410 a keyed sensor configured for a particular restricted access monitor 260 (FIG. 2) and removing 420 the associated keyed connector 214 (FIG. 2), as described in further detail with respect to FIG. 5, below. Further steps include providing 430 a keyless adapter cable 600 (FIG. 6), and attaching 440 the keyed connector 214 (FIG. 2) to one end to make the keyed adapter cable 700 (FIG. 7), as described in further detail with respect to FIGS. 6-7, below. Additional steps include connecting 450 a keyless sensor 810 (FIG. 8) to the keyed adapter cable, and accessing 460 the restricted access monitor with the resulting adapted sensor 800 (FIG. 8), as described in further detail with respect to FIG. 3, above, and FIG. 8, below.

FIGS. 5-6 illustrate obtaining a sensor key from a keyed sensor 210 (FIG. 5) and using the key in the construction of a keyed adapter cable 700 (FIG. 7). As shown in FIG. 5, the keyed connector 214 is removed from a keyed sensor 210, such as by cutting the sensor cable 212 so as to leave sufficient wire for reattachment. As shown in FIG. 6, a keyless adapter cable 600 is provided having a cable 720 with a sensor connector 714 attached to a first end and with unconnected wires 610 at a second end. The removed keyed connector 214 is spliced or otherwise attached to the second end by any of various well-known methods, such as soldering or crimping followed by heat-shrink insulation to name a few techniques.

Construction of a keyed adapter cable 700 (FIG. 7) is described above with respect to removal and reattachment of a keyed connector 214. In an alternative embodiment, the key or memory element itself is removed from the keyed connector 214 of a keyed sensor 210 (FIG. 5) and embedded into or otherwise integrated into or incorporated with either one or both connectors of an otherwise keyless adapter cable 600 to construct the keyed adapter cable 700 (FIG. 7). In yet another embodiment, an equivalent memory element is purchased, developed or otherwise obtained and programmed with access data compatible with the memory element of the keyed sensor 210 (FIG. 5) and embedded into or otherwise integrated into or incorporated with either one or both connectors of an otherwise keyless adapter cable 600 to construct the keyed adapter cable 700 (FIG. 7).

FIG. 7 illustrates a keyed adapter cable 700 having a sensor connector 714, a keyed connector 214 and a cable 720 interconnecting the sensor connector 714 and keyed connector 214. The sensor connector 714 is configured to connect to a sensor patient cable connector 814 (FIG. 8), and the keyed connector 214 is configured to connect to a patient cable sensor connector 242 (FIG. 3). The keyed connector 214 has a memory element that is readable by a restricted access monitor 260 (FIG. 3) so as to unlock a locked sensor port 262 (FIG. 3), as described above.

FIG. 8 illustrates an adapted sensor 800 having a keyed adapter cable 700 attached to a keyless sensor 810. The sensor connector 714 of the keyed adapter cable 700 is mated to the patient cable connector 814 of the keyless sensor 810. The resulting adapted sensor 800 is configured to function with a restricted access monitor 260 (FIG. 3) in an equivalent manner as a keyed sensor 210 (FIG. 2). In particular, the keyed connector 214 mates with a patient cable 240 (FIG. 3), which mates with a locked sensor port 262 (FIG. 3) of a restricted access monitor 260 (FIG. 3) so that monitor 260 (FIG. 3) functions with the keyless sensor 810, as described above with respect to FIG. 3.

A keyed adapter cable is described above with respect to an adapter between a keyless sensor 810 and a patient cable 240 (FIG. 3). Such an embodiment is particularly advantageous for utilization of a keyed connector 214 removed from a keyed sensor 210 (FIG. 5). In an alternative embodiment, the patient cable 240 (FIG. 3) itself is utilized as a keyed adapter cable between a keyless sensor 810 and a locked sensor port 262 (FIG. 3). In particular, a memory element containing access data is removed from a keyed sensor 210 (FIG. 5) or a memory element is purchased, developed or otherwise obtained and programmed with compatible access data. The memory element is embedded into or otherwise integrated into or incorporated with either one or both connectors of an otherwise keyless patient cable 240 (FIG. 3) to construct a keyed adapter cable.

A pulse oximeter access apparatus and method has been disclosed in detail in connection with various embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed by way of examples only and are not to limit the scope of the claims that follow. One of ordinary skill in art will appreciate many variations and modifications. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of assembling a mechanical device that unlocks a patient monitor, the patient monitor configured to process signals from a noninvasive optical sensor attached to a patient to determine one or physiological parameters of the patient, the patient monitor including a programmatic lock unlockable by presenting appropriate access information, the method comprising: acquiring an authorized sensor including a key storing electronic access information configured to change a locked patient monitor into an unlocked patient monitor, the key being non-removably incorporated into the authorized sensor to the extent that removal significantly damages the authorized sensor, the key and the authorized sensor having a one-to-one association with one another; removing said key from said authorized sensor by damaging said authorized sensor; and incorporating said key into a mechanical device, said mechanical device with said incorporated key together configured to communicate with said locked patient monitor to unlock said lock, said mechanical device with said incorporated key together having a one-to-many association with a plurality of unauthorized sensors.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said incorporating said key into said mechanical device comprises incorporating said key into a patent cable.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said incorporating said key into said mechanical device comprises incorporating said key into a connector. 